Paris Saint-Germain accused of racially profiling players

PSG say that those accused have all left the clubFRANCK FIFE/GETTY IMAGES

Paris Saint-Germain are investigating claims that young players were subject to illegal racial profiling by talent scouts. The French investigative website Mediapart, which cited documents from the latest series of Football Leaks allegations, said that scouts for the Qatar-owned French champions were to register players’ ethnicity on an electronic form.

Their origin was to be described as French, North African, West Indian or African — but only white players were noted as French. Social profiling is illegal in France.

“Paris Saint-Germain confirm that forms with illegal content were used between 2013 and 2018 by the scouting department at the youth academy,” the club said in a statement, adding that the general management “were never aware” of the system. “These forms were used solely at the…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.